The blood pressure concern

I got my blood-pressure reading; i was bit worried.

(wrist digital blood-pressure-monitor)

My blood-pressure was 114/72 (mm Hg). I felt that it would translate into low-blood-pressure, because i remembered someone saying normal pressure would read 120/80. So, my concern was, i might be a low pressure victim even if i did not feel any symptom of low blood pressure then.

Thus, i started browsing through internet, searching information on blood pressure and found that i didn't have any reason to worry about. I realised that my pressure was in fact normal. RELIEVED!!!

The following chart shows blood pressure categories defined by the American Heart Association.

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic mm Hg (upper #)		Diastolic mm Hg (lower #)
Normal	Less than 120	and	Less than 80
Pre-hypertension	120-139	or	80-89
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1	140-159	or	90-99
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2	160 or higher	or	100 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed)	Higher than 180	or	Higher than 110

                             (chart showing blood pressure category)

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers and written in ratio. E.g: 114/72 mm Hg, read as " 114 over 72 millimetres of mercury".

Systolic:The top number (which is the higher of the two numbers) "measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts)".
Diastolic:The bottom number (which is also the lower of the two numbers), "measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood)".

According to American Heart Association,there is no specific number at which blood pressure is considered too low, as long as no symptoms of trouble are present; and the lower pressure reading is better within certain limits it says.Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.

It is said that low blood pressure is dangerous only if it causes signs and symptoms of:   

• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Fainting (called syncope)
•  Dehydration and unusual thirst
• Lack of concentration
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Fatigue 
• Depression

note: I got the reading from private home-use digital-blood-pressure-monitor.